Open Letter in Response to HR-5688

Dear Friends,

I am an acupuncture and Oriental medicine provider in private practice in Prescott, AZ. Through the years I have developed close and collegial working relationships with many of the allopathic providers in our town in the co-management of our patients. In fact, many of these doctors are my patients as they strive to pursue wellness and balanced health. They have taken the time to learn what is required of us in our didactic and clinical training and understand that in addition to pre- medical preparation similar to their own, many of us complete rigorous four year programs prior to board examinations. Many of us go on to post-graduate study to increase our skill and knowledge, as do the allopathic physicians. And all of us complete continuing education studies as a condition of our licensing, as do they.

Twenty years ago, the mainstream medical community largely discounted the efficacy of Oriental medicine as quaint quackery. With the growing interest in alternative health care by the patient public, and increased clinical studies proving the successful treatment of a wide array of illness, both chronic and acute, the Western medicine organizations seem to now believe Oriental medicine, specifically acupuncture, is a modality of merit (and money) they should control within their scope of practice.

The thousands-year-old practice of traditional acupuncture and Oriental medicine and the recently developed method of medical acupuncture differ in the underlying medical principles, methods for differential diagnosis, understanding of treatment principles, and in outcomes.

Most of us who have been properly trained in this complicated and wonderful medicine have many patients who have been treated by medical acupuncturists and realized the practitioner was not expert in the medicine. Their results were short lived or ineffective. They have come to us for proper treatment.

So why is there this difference in treatment outcomes between the fully trained Oriental medicine provider and the medical acupuncturist? To my mind, it is because acupuncture is one part of Oriental medicine; a very important part certainly, but it is best combined with the other very important parts of classical treatment: Oriental medicinal herb formulas, dietary modifications, movement medicine and lifestyle changes, all of which are individually designed for the patient's current condition and constitution to further enhance and continue the work that the acupuncture begins. Without this comprehensive approach, the patient is receiving sub-standard care.

I strongly oppose HR-5688 as it seeks to remove the qualified practitioners of Oriental medicine and replace them with individuals which have little training in the science and art of this magnificent healing practice.

Thank you for your kind attention in this very important matter.

Sincerely,

Jean Painter, Dp. OM, L.Ac
Harmony Integrative Medicine, LLC
Education Chairperson
Arizona Society of Oriental Medicine and Acupuncture
1000 Willow Creek Road, Ste A
Prescott, AZ 86301
(928) 776-4895